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Skelton: Improve readiness by leaving Iraq

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee says military readiness is his top priority — ahead of weapons modernization programs.

And Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., said the main thing that can be done to improve combat readiness of U.S. forces is to leave Iraq as soon as possible.

In a breakfast meeting with defense reporters, Skelton did not lay out an Iraq withdrawal plan, but said the U.S. “cannot be there forever.”

“We are going to need troops to do something [else]. We need to be ready,” he said.

Skelton’s committee is expected to begin writing its version of the 2009 defense authorization bill next week. He said improving near-term readiness will be the top priority in the budget, even though this could squeeze funds for some important weapons programs that also have strong bearing on future readiness.

Skelton said he believes Iraq will not become fully responsible for its own security and reconstruction until it becomes clear to Iraqi leaders that the U.S. is preparing to leave.

“Reconstruction is something that needs to be done, and they are going to have to do it,” Skelton said. “They can pay for an awful lot more than they are.”

He said he has serious concerns that the endless cycle of Iraq deployments for U.S. troops is diluting what he considered a more important military offensive in Afghanistan.

“That would be our No. 1 priority,” he said, adding that he worries that “it is not the top priority of the administration.”

“We really cannot put off success today, particularly in Afghanistan,” Skelton said.